Fresh violence in Paris as riot police use tear gas and batons

Fresh violence in Paris as riot police use tear gas and batons to fight back masked fuel protesters near the Arc de Triomphe

‘Yellow Vest’ supporters have gathered for fresh protests on the Champs-Elysees

Police have set up ID checkpoints and used tear gas to fight back demonstrators

It comes a week after rioters brought chaos to Paris in a row over fuel prices

By

Peter Allen

and
Tim Stickings For Mailonline

and
Reuters

Published:
09:18 GMT, 1 December 2018

| Updated:
10:14 GMT, 1 December 2018

Violence has exploded again in Paris this morning as riot police clashed with masked protesters on the Champs-Elysees.

As ‘Yellow Vest’ supporters gathered on the avenue riot police sprayed tear gas, fired water cannon and pulled out their batons to fight back protesters gathering around the Arc de Triomphe.

Identity checkpoints and police barricades have been set up on the road in an effort to avoid rioting on the historic avenue.

Some 5,000 police and gendarmes will be deployed today a week after the protesters brought chaos to the French capital, smashing up shops and restaurants, lighting fires, and fighting running battles with riot squads.

One of the ‘yellow vest’ protesters, wearing one of the ‘gilets jaunes’ after which the movement is named, waves a French flag by the Arc de Triomphe on Saturday morning

A demonstrator kicks back a tear gas canister towards riot police. Some 5,000 police and gendarmes are expected to be out in force in Paris today

Riot police officers are covered with painting during clashes with demonstrators as part of a protest against rising fuel prices which has grown into a wider rebellion

Tear gas floats in the air as protesters wearing yellow vests, a symbol of a French drivers’ to protest against higher diesel taxes, demonstrate in Paris on Saturday

The Yellow Vest movement erupted last month in a rebellion against fuel taxes which has grown into a wider challenge to living costs and Emmanuel Macron’s presidency.

By 11am local time there had already been 24 arrests as the area in front of the Arc de Triomphe was turned into a battleground.

As the violence intensified, riot police were covered in bright yellow paint thrown by the Yellow Vests.

‘There will be identity checks and bag searches for all pedestrians,’ said Christophe Castener, France’s Interior Minister, adding that cars would be banned.

The Dior Store was among those looted, with the designer fashion business losing up to £1million worth of stock.

Police responded with water cannon and round upon round of tear gas in an effort to quell the violence.

A demonstrator waves a French national flag by the Arc de Triomphe, at the end of the Champs-Elysees which is bracing for fresh protests today

Riot police clash with demonstrators on the Champs-Elysees on Saturday in the latest wave of protests

Tear gas floats in the air as police secure an area near protesters wearing yellow vests today

The movement, organised through social media, has steadfastly refused to align with any political party or trade union.

It is named after the high-visibility jackets which motorists are required to carry in their cars.

The ‘yellow vests’ include many pensioners and has been most active in small urban and rural areas where it has blocked roads, closed motorway toll booths, and even walled up the entrance to tax offices.

The government has tried to hold a dialogue but the protesters have been unwilling to appoint leaders.

Macron has sought to douse the anger by promising three months of nationwide talks on turning France into a low-carbon economy without penalising the poor.

He also vowed to slow the rate of increase in fuel taxes if international oil prices rise too rapidly but only after a tax hike due in January.

On Friday, the government tried – mostly in vain – to talk to representatives of the movement.

Eight were invited to meet Prime Minister Edouard Philippe but only two turned up, and one walked out after being told he could not invite TV cameras in to broadcast the encounter live to the nation.